William boueke



(No Model.)

W. BOURKE.

ADJUSTABLE BUTTON. No. 304.257. Patented Aug. 26, 1884.

each other.

\VILLIAM BOURKE, OF BROOKLYN, NElV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO RACHAEL A.

' BOURKE, OF SAME PLACE.

ADJUSTABLE BUTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 304,257, dated August 26, 1884.

Application filed May 3, 188 1. (No model.)

To aZZ 'whom/ it may concern Be it known that I, WM. BOURKE, of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Buttons, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

' My invention has relation to that class of buttons wherein the base piece or shoe and the top piece are made movable with respect to each other, to facilitate insertion in or removal from the button-hole. These are ordinarily known under the name of adjustable buttons, and are applied in cuffs, collars, and other situations.

The object of my invention is to produce a simple, cheap, durable, and easily-operating button of the class named, wherein the mova ble part shall be hinged upon the shank in such manner that it cannot be detached therefrom, and so that -when turned down or in position to enter and pass through the buttonhole it will lie in the prolongation of the shank, and when turned back upon its hinge will remain in a position at right angles to the shank, which then projects from its central part, the parts being arranged in such manner that in order to open or close the button it is only necessary to turn the hinged part upon the shank, no sliding or other adjustment being required. To accomplish this my improvements involve certain novel and useful peculiarities of construction, relative arrangements or combinations of parts, and principles of operation, all of which will be herein first fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation of the top part of the button with the base or shoe detached, showing the edge of the shank; and Fig. 2, a similar View showing the face of the shank. Fig. 3 represents in section the several parts of which the base-piece is composed, and Fig. 4 represents the same parts in plan, the parts being separated from Fig. 5 is a plan of the top of the button, and Fig. 6 a plan of the same reversed, showing the central location of the base-piece with respect to the top when the base is turned up or closed. Fig. 7 is a side elevation, and Fig. 8 a vertical section, of the complete button, showing the base-piece turned up or closed.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section, and Fig. 10 a side elevation, of the complete button, showingthe base-piece turned down ready to be inserted through the buttoirhole.

In all these figures like letters of reference wherever they occur indicate corresponding parts.

I have shown the base-piece as the part hinged upon the shank; but obviously the top might be hinged, if preferred, or one or both parts hinged, as when the improvement is ap plied upon or in connection with links, (com monly known as link-buttons or cufflinks.

A represents the top of the button, and B the shank secured thereon. The lower part of the shank is inclined with respect to the upper part, as shown, the two parts forming an angle with each other of degree proper to admit the hinged part to occupy the positions referred to hereinafter.

O is the shell of the base-piece; D, an interior plate, slotted as shown in Fig. 4; E, a spring, and F the cap orcover.

Upon the lower end of the shank B are two projections, a a, which, when in place beneath plate D, ride under the bearings b b. prongs c c of spring E bear upon the ledges d d of the shank, while the end 6 of the spring is passed under the detent formedby cutting and slightly bending plate D. These parts being in place they are secured by the capplate or cover F, which is located in the top shell, 0, and held by beading or bending the edge of the shell. The slot 9 in the cap-plate is located so as to register with the notch h in the shell,the two forming the opening within which the shank may move, and a tang, 2', upon plate D enters a notch, 7c, in the capplate and prevents the parts from becoming disarranged. WVhether turned up or turned down, the spring operates to hold the base or the movable part in the position to which adjusted. The axis of the hinge is located at about midway between the center and circum ference of the base part and at the bottom, of 166 The the base. When the base is turned up, the upper part of the shank projects from its central part, and the top and base are centrally disposed one with respect to the other. When ,the base is turned down, it swings upon the ing or unlocking the button) without interference with the material in which the button-hole is formed. In this respect the improved button differs from the ordinary hinged buttons, which necessitate that the base lie along the side of the shank when turned down, and the improved button differs from those requiring various adjustments of the base part in the simplicity of construction and ease of operation. The base is smooth upon both sides, and offers no obstruction to being passed through the button hole. The projections upon the shank forming the axis of the hinge being located upon the end of the shank and made to turn in bearings beneath the interior plate of the shoe brings the hinge in close proximity to the bottom part of the shell of the shoe, and thus enables me to make the shoe more nearly flat than would be possible if the axis of the hinge were located above the end of the shank. Further, by making the springto bear down upon the shank from points above the axis of the hinge, the shank is pressed toward the bottom plate of the shoe, and ample room is afforded for all the necessary movements of the spring above the hingeaxis, which spring, in the position indicated and operating as set forth, obviates all undue wearing of the hinge, and is easily adjusted or assembled with the other parts for use.

The improved button is found in practice to admirably answer the purpose or object of the invention, as previously set forth.

Having now fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a button of the character herein set forth, the shank inclined at its lower end, having the projections a a at bottom and ledges d d above said projections, the slotted interior plate of the base part, and the forked spring arranged to bear upon the tops of the ledges on the shank, these parts being combined and arranged substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with the shank inclined at its lower end and having a base-piece or movable part hinged at the lower extremity of the shank, the spring bearing upon the shank at points above the axis of the hinge and moving in the space above said axis, substantially in the manner and for the purposes explained.

3. The combination of the shell of the movable base part, the interior plate having bearings or recesses which accommodate the pro jections 011 the extremity of the bent shank, the spring secured upon and above said i11- terior plate and bearing down upon the shank at points above the axis of the hinge, and the slotted cap-plate, all combined with the shank of the button, substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a button of the character herein set forth, the movable base part, provided with an interior plate slotted and indented to receive the projections a a upon the extremity of the bent shank, and also slotted to receive the tangeupon the end of the spring, forming, with said shank, a hinge located at one side of the center and within the base part, and the spring located above said plate and bearing down upon the shank at points abor e the hinge-axis, all combined and arranged substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

. \VILLIAM BOURKE.

Witnesses:

JOHN BUOKLER, WORTH OSGOOD. 

